Churches must ensure their child protection procedures are the best possible, Nigel Williams warned today, writes Clare Jerrom.
The children’s commissioner for Northern Ireland said churches needed to build on the contribution they make through children’s and youth organisations and take a lead in child protection.
“The problem that we face is that some Christians do abuse children; that some clergy can abuse children; that some church leaders abuse children,” said Williams.
“If we are to develop effective child protection policies we must start from the point that those within the church can be abusers as much as those outside.”
Williams added that it was wholly inappropriate and arguably
illegal for churches to try and deal with allegations
internally.
